Love
music? Have fun with your child as you
all sing, move, dance and learn!

David Putano, HPMT, MT-BC is a board certified
music therapist and has worked with autistic
children since 1992.

"A definition of music therapy that
I have always focused on is: Music Therapy
– using music for non-musical goals.
Very simply, when I for example am playing
guitar, supporting a child playing a keyboard,
the goal is not to make beautiful music.
The goal(s) might be to exercise fine
motor coordination, or to demonstrate
taking of turns, etc. If beautiful music
is made that is “icing on the cake.”
With this in mind I have written music
that I provide in the music therapy group
classes."

Original music is the vehicle for goal
areas that teach and support the development
of speech and language, socialization
skills, fine and gross motor movement
and focus on learning and skill areas
for progress through elementary school.
These areas include support and teaching
of counting skills, learning colors, taking
of turns, knowing seasons and days of
the week, identifying community helpers,
etc.

Before song plays, ask children
questions about opposites, for
ex, “Jimmy, what is the
opposite of right...?” etc...
Then with the song playing, support
the children to perform accurate
movements on cue suggested in
the song, for ex, sit/stand, raise
rt/left hands, etc.

Opposite are different - they're
never the same
Listen as I sing and play this
simple game
What is the opposite of up -
down - what is the opposite
of down - up
Down is the opposite of up -
is the opposite of down - is
the opposite of up

Opposite are different - they're
never the same
Listen as I sing and play this
simple game
What is the opposite of right
- left - what is the opposite
of left - right
Left is the opposite of right
- is the opposite of left -
is the opposite of right

Opposite are different - they're
never the same
Listen as I sing and play this
simple game
What is the opposite of sit
- stand - what is the opposite
of stand - sit
Stand is the opposite of sit
- is the opposite of stand -
is the opposite of sit

Opposite are different - they're
never the same
Listen as I sing and play this
simple game
What is the opposite of loud
- quiet - what is the opposite
of quiet - loud
Quiet is the opposite of loud
- is the opposite of quiet -
is the opposite of loud

Opposite are different - they're
never the same
Listen as I sing and play this
simple game
What is the opposite of big
- small - what is the opposite
of small - big
Small is the opposite of big
- is the opposite of small -
is the opposite of big

Now that we know opposites
from singing them in class
Everybody stand up - we'll sing
them really fast...

What is the opposite of up
- down - what is the opposite
of down - up
Down is the opposite of up -
is the opposite of down - is
the opposite of up
What is the opposite of right
- left - what is the opposite
of left - right
Left is the opposite of right
- is the opposite of left -
is the opposite of right What
is the opposite of sit - stand
- what is the opposite of stand
- sit
Stand is the opposite of sit
- is the opposite of stand -
is the opposite of sit What
is the opposite of loud - quiet
- what is the opposite of quiet
- loud
Quiet is the opposite of loud
- is the opposite of quiet -
is the opposite of loud What
is the opposite of big - small
- what is the opposite of small
- big
Small is the opposite of big
- is the opposite of small -
is the opposite of big

Possible action/movement directives:
with the song playing support
the children to use their voices
and sing the chorus (and possibly
clap on beats 2 and 4). Then
when the days are shouted out,
what we do at our school, is
have the children jump on each
day as it is recited. Or support
them to do another vigorous,
gross motor movement.

***Learning is nicely engrained
in conjunction with gross motor
movements.

What we do at our school is
with the song playing, support
and encourage the children to
use their voices and sing the
chorus. Then have individual
children take turns to point
to pictures of the colored objects
as they are sung. We have printed
off clip art pictures of objects
suggested in the song.

What we do at our school is
with the song playing, support
and encourage the children to
use their voices and sing the
chorus. Then support the children
to again, use their voices to
accurately count by 2s, 5s and
10s as the song continues.

What we do at our school is
before the song plays, have
the children face their teacher
(or other higher functioning
student). Then with the song
playing, support and encourage
the children to use their voices
to sing the chorus and then
sing/say manner phrases to each
other. Encourage mannerisms
hand movements, i.e., smiles,
waves, etc.

What do you say when someone
says hi? (you say) Hi how
are you.
That's what say when someone
says hi. (you say) Hi how
are you.
Be polite – say nice
things – then you'll
see what good manners bring.
You'll have friends all the
time – when your manners
shine.

What do you say when you
leave the room? (you say)
Bye, see you soon.
That's what say when you leave
the room. (you say) Bye, see
you soon.
Be polite – say nice
things – then you'll
see what good manners bring.
You'll have friends all the
time – when your manners
shine.

What do you say when someone
helps you? (you say) Thank
you very much.
That's what say when someone
helps you. (you say) Thank
you very much.
Be polite – say nice
things – then you'll
see what good manners bring.
You'll have friends all the
time – when your manners
shine.

What do you say when someone
needs help? (you say) May
I help you?
That's what say when someone
needs help. (you say) May
I help you?
Be polite – say nice
things – then you'll
see what good manners bring.
You'll have friends all the
time – when your manners
shine.

Please, is a good word.
You say please when you want
something.
Use good manners when you
ask say please.
Say please, say please...